This archive report was first published on 19 October 2019.
On October 12, 2019, Citizen TV's Yvonne Okwara and her family were at her brother's graveside holding a memorial service. Little did they know that their sorrowful moments would soon turn into a celebration.
As they delayed the occasion to watch Eliud Kipchoge's historic win in Vienna, Austria, they found themselves cheering along with the rest of the world. 'This is a very personal moment for me,' Okwara narrated on Citizen TV. 'I lost my brother a year ago and Kipchoge's feat found us at the most unlikely place.'
Okwara's uncles, aunts, mum, and cousins went wild with celebrations after Kipchoge won. 'We were literally celebrating by the graveside,' she added. The family even went ahead to celebrate their loved one's memorial service.
But they weren't the only ones celebrating Kipchoge's success. Another family at the same cemetery, which was celebrating a different occasion, joined in on the celebration. 'There was another family at the other graveside,' Okwara explained. 'They came by our side to celebrate then went off to pray. What shocked me was that they never prayed at all.'
Okwara concluded by thanking the marathoner for making such a hard moment easier. 'I want to thank Kipchoge for making such a hard moment that easier,' she said.
